Carbonator



Aug. 19, 1930.- F. EQ RICE 1,773,375

GARBONATOR Original Filed May 20, 1926 Vlt) Patented Aug. 19, 1930 ,OFFICE FRAN-'K E. RICE, or DETROIT, ivrIcnieN "i CAfRBoNAToR l Y Application filed May 2o, 1'9`26,"seria1 No'. 110,433. Renewed Juiyze, 1929.

This: invention relates to a carbonating and bottling apparatus that may be constructed on a large scale and used by the manuf'acturerr (jr-dispenser of various kinds of beverages or c charge'dwaters, orv it maybe constructed on a smaller scale for retail buslness so that bevera-gesor liquids may be charged and dispensed 1n small quantities. Y

My invent-'ion aims to provide an apparatu in Whicha beverage or Water may be charged With 'a gas, as carbon' dioxide, the beverage or Water cooled, and kthen c dispensed in small f quantities or bottled for future use.

The apparatus is constructed so that it may be maintained in a sanitary condition and provision ismade fori charging the beverage Without disturbing any sediment orforeign matter that may accumulate in the charging receptacle.4 This Willinsure a clear product for bottling.v Provision has also been made for removing air or gas from a bottle as it is filled, the air or gas being conducted to the charging receptacle in which ythe liquid to be charged is cooled prior to entering a final cooling device. The apparatus includes a Yconstruction by which beverages and other liquid-s may be expeditiously and economically charged and bottled and the construction entering into my -invention Will be hereinafter specifically`describedand then claimed'.

Reference Willl now be had to the draW- ing, wherein A Y I Figure levis a -front elevation of the carbonating 4and bottling apparatus showing the c'hargingreceptacle in vertical longitudinal section, f

Fig; 2- is a detail Vsectional view of a faucet formingpart of the apparatus, and

' Fig. 3 is a side elevation, on a small scale of the bottlesupport for the faucet ofthe f cooling chamber.l

In the drawing, the reference numeral 1 denotes a table or other support upon which may be placed a charging receptacle -2 that i is preferably cylindrical and provided with detachable heads 3 and 4, and-has feet 5 by which the receptacle may be conveniently supported from the table 1. The cylindrical receptacle2 is preferably made of metal and its inner Wall is provided With a lining 6 of enamel, vitreousmaterial or some acid proof material that may be easily :Washed and maintained in a sanitarycondition. The

ends of the receptacle 2 are provided With peripheral flanges 7 and the heads Sand 4 are set in theends of the receptacle 2 and secured to theflanges 7 by screw bolts 8 or other fas- Vand 9.. can bethoioi1,f:,rli'ly-V cleaned and any sediment removed from the receptacle.

. Thetop of the receptacle 2h`as-'a`1illing connection` 11,-normally` closed by a detachable screw cap 12 vforming anair tightconnection Withthe lling connection 11, so that air or gas cannot escape from the top of the receptacle. Attached to the filling connection 12 is a stand` pipe 13 for a conventional form of pressure gauge 14Whereby the pressure of vair or gas Within the top of thereceptacle 2 imay be easily ascertained.

The head 3 is providedfwithone or more stuliingboxes 15 and extending therethrough inan'oblongcoil of pipe 16 through which Ya cooling agent `may be circulatedto cool the liquid n 17 Within they receptacle.

The .detachable head 4 has a connection 18 which together With the connection 11 is lined toprevent the metallic receptacle from contaminatingthe kliquid or beverage in the receptacleV 2. On the connection 18 is a cap or closure 19 and attachedito said cap is a combined inlet and outlet connection 20 hav,-

ing its` inner'end provided with va nozzle 21 f Which is completely housed Within the connection 18 butis adapted to discharge gas :a

dioxide gas is usually supplied. With the valve 22 open the carbon dioxide gas may enter the liquid 17 to fully charge the liquid and the pressure of gas accumulating in the top of the receptacle may be observed at the gauge lil.

The connection 20 includes anoutlet branch provided with a control valve 26 connected by a tube or pipe 27 to a coupling 28. This coupling is attached to the end of a cooling coil 29 Within a refrigerator or cooling chamber 30. The chamber 30 contains ice or other cooling agent and has been shown somewhat in the form of a tank upon a table or suitable support 31, orif found desirable may be attached directly to thelegs 5.

T he cooling coil 29 has an outlet connection to a tubular plug valve or faucet This faucet has a discharge nozzle 34 adapted to t in the neck or mouth of a bottle 35. On the nozzle 34 is a resilient sleeve or cushion 36, Which will prevent the bottle from being injured by contact with the nozzle. The sleeve 36 also constitutes a seal for the bottle While being filled, and extending through the nozzle 34 is a. filling tube 37.

' The faucet 83 serves as an outlet for bottled air or lgas during a bottle filling operation. To this end, the faucet 33 has an additional passage 38 controlled by the plug 39 ofthe lfaucet. Communicating with the passage 38 is a return pipe coupled to a branch Li1 of the stand pipe 13 with said branch provided with a shut oif valve 42. *With this shut ofi1 valve open during a bottling operation, air

or gas from the bottle 35 can enter the receptacle 2. The valve t2 may be closed While the liquid 17 is being charged and this will prevent gas from the top of the receptacle 2 passing into the return pipe 40 and escaping the faucet, should this faucet have been left open. It is during the charging operation that the valve 26 is closed and is opened only When the charged liquid is to be supplied to the cooling coil 29 and eventually to the bottle 35 or a glass or other receptacle placed under the nozzle 84.

For supporting the bottle 35 relative to the nozzle 34, the front Wall of the cooling chamber 30 is provided with an angularly disposed bracket 40a having an adjustable support il on which the bottle 35 may be placed With the neck of the'bottle on the sleeve 36. In such position the bottle is safely supported and bottles of various lengths may be supported by simply adjusting the support 41a.

My apparatus has been especially designed for the dispenser of small'quantities of bevera ge, because various kinds of beverages may be placed in the receptacle 2, aA cartridge of carbon dioxide gas purchased and coupled to is no Waste of gas or chance of beverage being contaminated.

It is thought that the utility and operation of my apparatus will be apparent Without further description, and While in the drawing there is illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the structural elements are susceptible to suchvariations and modifications as fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

Vhat I claim is 1. A carbonating apparatus comprising a liquid receptacle having an extended base of sufficient area to permit settling of sediment, a combined inlet and outlet connection at said base and adapted to admit gas to said recep tacle, and an upturned nozzle forming part of said combined inlet and outlet connection above the bottom of the receptacle to prevent interference With any sediment in said recep tacle.

2. A carbonator including a horizontally disposed tank constituting a liquid receptacle, said tank having a connection in one end thereof near the bottom thereof Which forms a recess communicating with the in` terior of said tank, a pipe extending into and terminating Within said recess and having its discharge end upturned above the bottoni of said tank, and valve controlled connections cominunicatin r With said pipe outwardly of said recess connection.

- 3. A carbonator including a horizontally disposed cylindrical tank constituting a liquid receptacle, a combined inlet and outlet connection in one end of said tank communi eating With the interior of said tank, a part of -said connection including a horizontally disposed pipe having its open end upturned and disposed above the bottom of the tank.

4. A carbonatorv including a horizontally `disposed cylindrical tank constituting a liquid receptacle, said tank having a connection .in one end thereof near kthe bottom thereof which forms a recess communicating with the interior of the tank, a combined inlet and outlet connection communicating with the interior of said recess, and a part of said connection including a horizontally disposed lli) pipe having its open end upturned and dis- 7 posed above the bottom of the tank.

yIn testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

FRANK E. RICE.

the receptacle, and then the apparatusr Will carbonate the beverage placed in the receptacle. Various kinds of cooling apparatus may be used and With tight connections there 

